Kiwassee Kiwanis observing 47 years

By the Midland Daily News

Published 8:30 am, Friday, February 21, 2014

Kiwassee Kiwanis Club of Midland is celebrating its 47th anniversary since the initial charter on Feb. 22, 1967.

Fourteen members of the evening Kiwanis Club of Midland created the noon luncheon club, and selected the name “Kiwassee,” a combination of Kiwanis and Tittabawassee. The 87 current members are part of Kiwanis International, a worldwide service organization with more than 250,000 members dedicated to “serving the children of the world.”

Service to others is the main focus of club activities, and committees work to find Midland County and international projects that benefit children of all ages and communities. Donations of funds and “sweat equity” are made.

The second service project undertaken in 1967 was ringing the bells for the Salvation Army Christmas collection, and that service project continues to be one of the most popular for members. Kiwassee has been recognized by the Salvation Army as the top bell ringing group in Midland for several years.

Among the many other service projects are monthly readings to area preschoolers, construction of area playgrounds, support of North and West Midland Family Centers, CROP Hunger Walk organization with Church Women United, participation in city beautification projects and Camp Warmhearts support.

Kiwassee supports several Kiwanis youth organizations — Midland, Dow and now Meridian High Schools all have active Kiwanis Key Clubs.

Fundraising is done by selling candy and nuts during the holidays, a dinner dance at the Midland Country Club in April, a golf outing in summer, and the Travel and Adventure Film Series, a joint project with Midland Kiwanis Club, at the Midland Center for the Arts. In 2013 and 2014, proceeds from a new fundraising effort, the Flag Project, will support the Kiwanis International Eliminate Project. This is a joint project with UNICEF to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus worldwide.

Kiwassee Kiwanis Club of Midland meets on Tuesdays at noon in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Lutheran Church. Prospective new members who are interested in continuing Kiwassee Kiwanis’ tradition of service to others are invited to contact Gary Vogel at (989) 941-0555.